Chapter Text
Damian's mind floated between the sweet doors of dream and disgusting reality. His body felt cold, even though he could feel the warmth of Jon's larger body pressed against his back, one arm around him. He longed to curl up in that warmth, in the body heat that the half-Kryptonian gave off, but he felt so pathetically useless. Although his hands were hidden under the heavy quilt that covered them, he could barely feel the tips of his fingers. He couldn't even hold back the slight tremors that escaped him, the tremors that betrayed the anguish that squeezed his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe, as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart, squeezing out every drop of hope.
Damian's eyelids remained sealed, willing the sweet darkness to envelop him and free him from the relentless reality that awaited him on the other side. Without realizing it, he had remained alone, with his eyes closed but fully conscious, for at least an hour. It was upon opening them again that he encountered the sombre landscape of the room, tenderly illuminated by the glowing Metropolis moon.
Every corner of the room, bathed in silver light, seemed to whisper an echo of his inner desolation despite the presence of the owner of the place. Shadows stretched and twisted in the corners, creating grotesque figures that danced in the gloom, like distorted reflections of his own emotional dance. Silence weighed on him, a silence that was only interrupted by the soft murmur of the night, accentuating his feeling of isolation in the middle of the night's vastness.
Damian closed his eyes again, but this time not seeking the peace of sleep, but rather to escape the relentless moonlight that only served to expose his anguish. He wanted to immerse himself in the darkness, lose himself in it and forget, at least for a moment, the heavy load of emotions that oppressed him. Yet even with his eyes closed, reality was still there, lurking in the shadows of his mind, reminding him that he was alone in the dark of the night.
The only thing that kept him anchored to reality, the only thing that made him stay, was the enveloping aroma of the alpha. It seemed to be the only thing that comforted the pathetic omega in his chest, the only thing that kept his body from writhing from the overwhelming anguish that rose like a constant pain throughout his being, even as it cooled him. .
The alpha's scent filled the room with its comforting and familiar presence, like a gentle breeze in the midst of an emotional whirlwind. Each deep inhale of that scent seemed to bring with it a brief respite, a brief relief from the agonizing pressure crushing him from within. He could feel the scent enveloping him, embracing him, as if the alpha was present in the room.
He terrified him in turn.
He was terrified in turn that the feeling of warmth that the alpha's scent gave him was quickly overshadowed by the claws of terror that tore at his chest. If Jon also ended up... disappointing him, even more so now, when he only seemed like a miserable burden to anyone who saw him. The idea of being a failure again and being rejected, of being abandoned by the only alpha in whom right now he was placing the weakest part of his person and being that the last time he was on the verge of wanting to tell his truth to the alpha that He had wanted so much, Richard, and had simply managed to disappoint him before telling him the truth, filling him with a paralyzing fear.
Every time he thought about the possibility of Jon leaving him, he felt as if an abyss was opening beneath his feet, as if the entire world was crumbling around him. To his constant humiliation, the only anchor he had left in this world was Jon, his point of support in a world that seemed determined to make him fall. Without him, he felt lost, helpless, as if he were adrift in a sea of anguish and loneliness.
The fear of being abandoned consumed him, making him question his worth, his right to be loved and accepted. He felt like a burden, like a dead weight Jon was dragging around. How could he expect that someone like Jon, strong, brave and self-assured, would love someone like him, weak, insecure and full of doubt? It was only a matter of time until.
That same feeling, like a cold knife stuck in his chest, drove him to move with the lively subtlety of a professional assassin. He slid out of the comforting warmth of the bed, careful not to disturb the arm Jon had placed over him, controlling his own breathing so the older man wouldn't notice his unease. Every movement was imbued with a palpable tension, as if the fear that consumed him materialized in every gesture.
The cold of the room hit him immediately, making his skin crawl and a shiver run down his spine. Before getting out of bed, Damian couldn't help but fix his intense green orbs on the boy next to him. A voice in his head, full of desperation and pleading, implored him with broken cries not to leave, to take refuge in the warmth of Jon's scent and body heat. He raised his hand, not realizing the tremor in it, just wanting to touch the alpha's soft cheek, caressing with complete delicacy the soft, perfect skin that he had come to appreciate so much.
Every brush of his fingers against Jon's skin was like a caress to the heart, a fleeting but meaningful connection that reminded him how much he needed him, how much he loved him. The softness of the skin beneath his fingertips was a balm to his wounded soul, a promise of comfort and security in a world filled with uncertainty and fear.
But reality caught up with him quickly, like a bucket of cold water that shook him out of his daydream of appreciation for the alpha. He knew that he couldn't and shouldn't stay, that he couldn't depend on Jon, he shouldn't depend on absolutely anyone.
As much as he wanted to bury himself back into the comfort of the bed, next to Jon, he simply leaned slowly over the older man's body, closing his eyes regretfully as his lips placed one last kiss on the corner of his eyes. Jon's lips. It was a soft gesture but loaded with meaning, a way to say goodbye without words, to mark his silent farewell.
The kiss was brief but intense, full of love and pain, gratitude and sadness, emotions that he had been taught to never feel. Damian wished with everything in him that he could stay, that he could hold on to that moment for all eternity, but he knew that he had to continue, that he had to face his miserable fate whatever it was.
His feet felt frozen as he walked softly across the wooden floor, despite wearing winter socks. He was unconsciously calculating each step so as not to make any noise and, at the same time, without realizing it, he was holding his breath. He moved towards the window without hesitation, almost becoming briefly hypnotized by the night view of Metropolis, a truly beautiful city at night.
Every step echoed in the silence of the room, every movement meticulously planned to avoid any sound that might alert Jon. The cold of the floor seeped through his socks, but Damian barely felt it. He was engrossed in the view of the city illuminated by moonlight, the flickering lights of the buildings and the cars that glided through the streets like fireflies in the dark. Despite the anguish that consumed him, Damian couldn't help but feel a strange calm as he looked out over the sleeping city.
The moon shone brightly in the sky, with no malicious clouds dulling its beautiful soft glow. The lights of tall buildings and homely houses filled the enormous city, creating a fascinating and vibrant cityscape. The soft hum of car traffic echoed peacefully into the night, creating an urban symphony that seemed to lull the city into a state of calm and tranquility.
Opening the window, Damian immediately noticed the difference in the air. Instead of the characteristic smell of dampness and decay that he was used to smelling in Gotham, he was greeted by a pure and clean aroma, infused with the freshness of the night. It was as if the city itself was breathing, renewing itself under the light of the moon and the flashes of city lights.
For a moment, Damian allowed himself to get lost in the beauty of the scene before him. The serenity of the night and the majesty of the sleeping city filled him with a feeling of peace that he had forgotten for a moment.
Despite feeling his entire body trembling, not knowing if it was because of the cold or because of how weak he felt, Damian agilely threw himself out of the window, hanging expertly from the slots of the not-so-tall building. He didn't want to pay attention to how his muscles tensed painfully from the effort, he just wanted to get out of there. With one last push, he dropped and landed on his feet on the cold pavement of the street. He was already outside.
The impact reverberated through his body, sending waves of pain and numbness through his extremities. The cold of the frozen ground seemed to penetrate to his bones, making his teeth chatter involuntarily. Despite the pain and the cold, Damian forced himself to stand and walk away from the building, feeling the urge to put distance between himself and the source of his distress.
He staggered down the street, each step feeling like it was an endurance test. The long pants borrowed from Jon dragged on the ground, being too long for him, soiling the purity and warmth of him with the dirt of the sidewalk. Every time he lifted a foot, the fabric dragged with him, reminding him that he was out of place, that he didn't belong at all.
The shirt, although large and warm at the time, with sleeves that covered his hands, now seemed a mere layer of fabric between him and the biting cold of the night. He felt the cold seep through the fabric, shivering his skin and making his teeth chatter with every gust of wind. Each breath felt like a blade of ice in his lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe normally.
He crossed his arms, hugging himself as he continued down the unknown path. He felt how his knees and feet protested, how his eyes became watery at the heartbreaking feeling of loneliness and despair. The streets were empty, illuminated only by the flickering light of streetlights and the moon, with only a few stray dogs discreetly watching him from their alleys.
The dogs seemed to ask him silently how he had come to be like them, lost and aimless. Damian couldn't resist moving his hand from where he was holding his shirt when one of the dogs came sniffing closer. His frozen fingers touched the animal's battered fur, feeling the roughness and dirt beneath his pads. The dog moved a few centimeters away from his touch, as if he were evaluating it, and without expecting it at all, left a tender lick on his hand.
It was a simple but deeply moving gesture. In that moment, Damian felt an instant connection with the stray dog, as if they both shared the same feeling of abandonment and helplessness. A feeling of warmth and comfort washed over him, momentarily breaking the shell of hopelessness that had enveloped him. He stood there, in the middle of the empty street, with the dog next to him, feeling a small flicker of hope light up inside him.
His heart felt painfully squeezed in his chest as he looked into those sweet, innocent eyes of the animal. Sadness overwhelmed him overwhelmingly as he contemplated the helplessness and purity in the dog's gaze. The lump in his throat tightened even more, feeling as if each heartbeat were a superhuman effort amidst the desolation that enveloped him. The dog, oblivious to his internal torment, continued to place soft kisses with its tongue on the palm of his hand. Each wet caress was like a balm for his wounded soul, a display of pure and selfless affection that moved him to the core.
With each lick, Damian felt as if his own breathing became more difficult, as if the weight of his anguish was pressing down on him mercilessly. He was on the verge of bursting into tears, of letting all the sadness and despair he had kept hidden come to the surface in an uncontrollable torrent. But he restrained himself, resisting the temptation to give in to pain and hopelessness.
The pure, physical feeling of his heart being ripped out was palpable throughout his being the moment he forced himself to separate himself from the sweet, innocent love that that unknown dog gave him. Every step he took away from the animal was like a dagger stuck in his chest, a feeling of loss and desolation that enveloped him completely.
He forced his legs to unlock, to move despite the heaviness he felt in every muscle. Every step was a fight against the sadness that threatened to overwhelm him, an internal battle between the desire to stay and the knowledge that he had to move on.
His eyes held burning tears and his chest tightened as he left the little pup abandoned again in the darkness of the night. He could see through the haze a bus station on a street corner. Maybe that helps, although he had absolutely no money.
Every step he took away from the dog was like a weight on his soul, a constant reminder of the cruelty of the world and the loneliness in which he found himself. He felt as if he was betraying the trust and unconditional love the animal had given him, but he knew he had no choice. The bus station seemed to be his only hope at that moment. Maybe he could find some shelter there, or maybe someone kind who would be willing to help him. But even that seemed unlikely, since he didn't have even a penny in his pocket.
His feet felt numb as he approached the station, they didn't even hurt. The biting cold had become a simple dull pain that he could barely feel in his nerves through the frozen skin. Every step was an effort, a fight against the numbness that spread through his limbs.
The nighttime atmosphere seemed to envelop him in an icy embrace, making every inhalation a challenge. Despite everything, the omega had to keep going, his dull determination was stronger than the cold that enveloped him.
He sat on the lonely waiting bench, feeling the cold penetrate his bones through the icy wood. He didn't have the slightest idea when that bus would pass, he didn't even have a notion of the time. He could only blindly deduce, from how terribly dark it was, that it was after midnight. The only indication that he wasn't waiting alone for a bus to pass was that there were two other people next to him, also waiting.
Time seemed to stop in that desolate place, where the only company was the silence and the cold that enveloped it. Every minute felt like an eternity, every sigh a painful reminder of his desperate situation. However, despite the deep pain that spread like a virus throughout Damian's body, he didn't ultimately know what to expect, where he was going to go, if there was anything even waiting for him at the end of the road. Uncertainty consumed him, devouring any glimmer of hope he might harbor in his tormented heart.
His gaze was dissociated, disconnected from all his senses. It was strange for him, a child who normally stayed alert most of the time, always on the defensive against a possible threat. But now, the undisguised glances of the two strangers next to him did not matter to him in the slightest. He didn't even have enough energy to feel embarrassed.
Shame as he realized how disheveled he looked, how his scent couldn't hide his state in the slightest. He felt almost naked, exposed before the eyes of others, with a putrid, sour smell, which betrayed his omega discomfort, how humiliating. He felt like he was slowly rotting away, both physically and emotionally.
He felt like he was floating in a void, like he was observing his own life from outside his body. Every thought, every emotion, was muffled by a layer of detachment and apathy. What did the curious looks of others matter when his world had fallen apart around his ? What did shame matter when pain and anguish consumed him?
Could feel the furtive glances, the barely audible murmurs beside him, but for an indeterminate amount of time, he didn't focus on anything around him. He leaned on the post that was next to the waiting seat, helping to partially support his weight, his fatigue.
Every look was like a stab at his already fragile self-esteem, every whisper a reminder of his own misfortune. But at that moment, he didn't care. He was too absorbed in his own misery, in his own pain, to care what anyone else thought.
He realized, after a few long minutes of waiting in which his body seemed to go even more numb, along with the acute pain spreading through each joint, that the bus had arrived. His feet barely seemed to want to support his weight as he stood up again, ignoring any obstacles of his own, he walked to the entrance of the bus. His steps were slow, his heart beat in his ears, like a drum that marked the rhythm of his desperation.
Every step was a fight against the pain and fatigue that overcame him, every movement a reminder of his own weakness. But despite everything, he had to move forward, with the determination of someone who knows that he has no choice but to continue fighting, to continue surviving in a world that seemed determined to destroy him. And he is achieving it.
Upon reaching the entrance of the bus, he stopped for a moment, breathing deeply to calm the racing heartbeat of his heart. He waited for the shout, the scolding from the driver, when he passed through the entrance to sit in one of the seats, but he received absolutely nothing. He just let him pass, he couldn't even read the driver's expression properly when he saw him, his thick furrowed eyebrows, his eyes full of... anguish and sorrow, he felt sorry for him.
He sat in the seat, feeling the weight of the driver's gaze on him. What would you think of him? Would he judge him by his disheveled appearance, by his apparent state of neglect? Shame washed over him again, but this time it was mixed with a strange sense of relief. At least the driver hadn't berated him, he hadn't treated him with disdain like so many others had done that night.
He leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to calm his agitated mind. Although he didn't know where that bus would take him, at least for now he could rest a little, stop worrying about his uncertain fate.
But he abruptly opened them again with a gentle movement right into the free seat next to him. The feeling of surprise came over him at first, thinking that perhaps someone had occupied the place without him noticing. However, upon looking closely, he found no one other than the soft puppy sitting awkwardly on the empty seat. His big, bright eyes looked at him curiously, while his tail slapped the side of the seat in a slow, calm rhythm. His battered ears remained raised, as if he were paying attention to Damian's every move.
The puppy seemed to have followed him, although he didn't understand how he had managed to get on the bus without anyone noticing. His fur was a dark, worn color, showing signs of having lived on the streets for a long time. Despite that, his gaze was kind and his presence was comforting.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he held his breath, watching the animal move. His hand rose instantly, trembling, not knowing what to do. Just when the bus started, starting to move and shaking slightly, the dog leaned back on the seat, resting its head comfortably on the omega's thigh.
The animal's touch was like a balm to Damian, a feeling of warmth and calm in the midst of the confusion and chaos that surrounded him. The puppy's presence was comforting, as if he knew exactly what he needed at that moment. Without saying a word, the animal offered him his company, his support, his unconditional love.
Damian stood still for a moment, not daring to move, not wanting to scare the puppy that had decided to take refuge from him. Little by little with a feather-light movement, he dropped his hand on the animal's head, caressing it gently. The puppy responded with a soft sigh, as if he was enjoying the petting. In that moment, in the midst of darkness and uncertainty, Damian felt a spark of hope, a light on his path...
Letting his hand caress the animal's fur, resting his weight on it, as if somehow this were his last weak cable to the ground, he rested his head on the back of the seat and He closed his eyes. He hadn't realized how much he needed this, to let the constant burning in his eyes fade. A sigh escaped his chest, and the tension left his shoulders.
For a moment, everything seemed to stop. In the stillness and darkness of the moving bus, Damian allowed himself to relax, allowing himself to feel the calm and peace that the puppy was offering him. He felt comforted, protected, as if the entire weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. The soft sound of the bus engine mixed with the soft purr of the puppy, creating a calm and relaxing melody. For the first time in a long time, Damian allowed himself to simply be, without worrying about the future, without regretting the past. In that moment, in the midst of darkness and uncertainty, he found a small oasis of peace, a moment of tranquility in the midst of the storm.
Ignoring the cold on his feet covered only by socks, the scant clothing he was wearing for the weather, somehow, the presence of the sweet animal was enough to ignore absolutely everything. He let the bus take him anywhere, allowing the darkness to embrace him.
He felt as if he were floating in a sea of tranquility, with the soft murmur of the bus and the warm touch of the puppy as his only company. The rest of the world disappeared, leaving only the comforting feeling of being at peace.
"Boy guy..."
The voice, barely a distant murmur, filtered through the fog of his unconsciousness. At first, he thought it was just an echo in his mind, a whisper that faded into the vastness of his loneliness. But then, he felt the contact. A hand, light but insistent, rested on his shoulder, shaking him gently. he opened his eyes slowly, as if the weight of the world rested on his eyelids. The dim light of the bus seemed strange, almost unreal. He blinked several times, trying to focus, as the pain and sadness in his heart seemed to envelop him like a cold blanket.
His vision was clouded by the remnants of drowsiness, a thick haze that made it difficult for him to distinguish between dream and reality. He tried to focus, searching for the owner of the hand that had dared to touch him, a gesture so unusual in his world of loneliness and distrust. When his eyes finally met those of the stranger, it was like an unexpected clash of emotions.
The eyes that looked at him were deeply tired, burdened with the weight of countless restless nights and days filled with hard work. There was a silent compassion in them, a feeling almost forgotten to him, and a sorrow that he could not identify, but that resonated with his own sadness.
"We've already reached the last bus station," the man said, his voice low and raspy, charged with a melancholy that seemed to envelop everything.
The drowsiness instantly dispersed from his senses, as if a blast of cold air had suddenly woken him up. He had slept for at least eight hours without a single moment of consciousness, allowing the bus to take him to an unknown destination, a place he could not even imagine. His mind was still in a daze, trying to understand where he was and how he had gotten there. Confusion was evident on his face, his brows furrowed and lips slightly parted, as if the question was about to escape his mouth.
The driver, a man with a hard but tired look, immediately noticed his confusion. He had seen that expression many times before, he knew the uncertainty of those who came to this place without really knowing why.
"We're in Crime Alley," the driver said, his voice deep and emotionless, as if those words were a sentence he'd already uttered countless times.
The name echoed in his mind, filling him with a vague but palpable fear. Crime Alley. The place where darkness and hopelessness were intertwined in a perfect dance, where stories of misery and violence were common, and the echoes of cries for help were lost in the wind. His heart beat faster, and a feeling of desolation took over him, as if the very air of the place was permeated with sadness. Fear tightened around his neck like a noose, a suffocating knot that made it difficult to breathe at the thought of the possibility of meeting that person: Jason. He knew perfectly well that if Grayson himself disowned him, Todd would definitely put him out of his misery as soon as he realized his miserable presence in his town.
Jason Todd was not known for his leniency. His reputation as a ruthless, almost brutal vigilante preceded him. If Grayson, with his sense of justice and morality, rejected him, what could he expect from Jason, whose own history was tinged with violence and revenge? Although it was something so admirable at the same time, Todd, as vengeful as he can be, would skin himself alive to protect his people, to protect his family. That fierce loyalty was both his greatest virtue and his most fearsome threat. Damian knew it perfectly well, and the mere thought of it filled him with a mixture of respect and terror. He knew that he was on the vengeful alpha's unlucky wanted list, and the certainty that Jason would not hesitate to hunt him down and punish him made him feel a shiver of pure dread that ran through his entire body.
A gentle lick slowed his frantic train of anguished thoughts, stopping him instantly and snapping his mind out of the heavy haze. The warm, wet tongue of the stray puppy who had followed him gently caressed the back of his hand. Damian's green eyes focused on where the small animal was still resting next to him. The tearful eyes of the being, so compassionate that he consoled him without any words he could say, seemed to want to silence the heartbreaking screams full of grief from the abused, humiliated omega who found himself vulgarly dismembered inside Damian.
The cub, with his fragile body and his innocent devotion, offered silent comfort, a fleeting but deeply meaningful bond. Damian felt a wave of emotions that almost overwhelmed him: gratitude, sadness, and a faint spark of hope. In those watery, empathetic eyes, he found an understanding he hadn't felt in a long time, as if the small animal could see past his hardened facade and embrace the broken child that lay within him.
The driver let him go with a simple look. It wasn't a judging look, there was no malice in the grown man's eyes. Instead, you could see a soft gleam in those tired eyes, a mix of sadness and resignation as he watched the boy, the little premature omega, walk away. Damian's socks got dirty with every step on the asphalt, while the faithful puppy followed closely behind him.
The image grotesquely pierced the adult man's heart. It was a painful parallel, a disgusting reality that did not need words to be understood. The vulnerability of that child and the loyalty of the small animal next to him spoke to him of a world full of cruelty and loneliness, where the innocent suffered in silence. With a last sigh full of resignation, the doors of the bus closed behind Damian, leaving the driver alone in the empty interior of the vehicle, with the weight of a sadness that he could not shake.
It will arrive soon
my lucky day
I know that before my death
I'm sure my luck will change
It will arrive soon
my lucky day
I know that before my death
I'm sure my luck will change
Waiting for my luck, I was left
But my life took another direction
Surviving in reality
From which I couldn't even escape
Pronto llegará
El día de mi suerte
Sé que antes de mi muerte
Seguro que mi suerte cambiará
Pronto llegará
El día de mi suerte
Sé que antes de mi muerte
Seguro que mi suerte cambiará
Ahora, me encuentro aquí en mi soledad
Pensando qué de mi vida será
No tengo sitio donde regresar
Y tampoco, a nadie quiero ocupar
Si el destino me vuelve a traicionar
Te juro que no puedo fracasar
Estoy cansado de tanto esperar
Y estoy seguro que mi suerte cambiará
¿Y cuándo será?
The only thing that broke the silence of the night was the dry, monotonous sound of his footsteps on the pavement. His feet, numb from the relentless cold seeping through his worn shoes, also felt the lingering pain of being unprotected. Each step led to memories of his endurance, of the countless miles he had walked from a young age. At the age of four, he had already traveled countless distances over scorching, stony sands, where sharp stones cut his delicate skin mercilessly. That experience, although painful, had taught him to endure physical suffering with almost superhuman strength. This current pain, compared to past torments, was just a grain of sand in the vast desert of his experiences.
Despite the discomfort and pain, his determination did not waver. Every step was an act of resistance, a demonstration of his unbreakable will. Cold, fatigue and hunger were known enemies, but his mind was set on a greater objective, an uncertain and almost abandoned destiny, with only one goal, his final one.
Beside him, he could hear the soft, quick little steps of the puppy, who seemed tireless in his walk beside him. Even the few times he stopped on the side of the sidewalk next to a tree so the animal could rest, it just looked at him with its big eyes full of affection. he would approach him to lick any visible part of his fur, his tail always moving with incredible happiness and frenzy, as if every moment with Damian was an exciting adventure.
It was then, in one of those moments of pause, that Damian realized the puppy's malnourished state. His ribs stood out under his unkempt fur, his gaze, despite being happy and playful, reflected a deep need for care and protection. Despite his own tiredness and needs, Damian felt a pang of pain in his heart as he saw the small animal's suffering.
He knelt down next to the puppy, stroking its head tenderly. He could feel every bone under his skin, every sign of the hardships he had faced on the streets. However, despite his apparent weakness, the cub still displayed unwavering determination and joy, as if his spirit was stronger than his battered body.
The sweet rays of dawn were beginning to illuminate the dark and gloomy city, coloring the sharp, cold air with a comforting warmth. Damian felt the sweet warm light caress his now sickly pale skin, beginning to try to warm him with the arms of his warmth. Every ray of sunshine seemed to carry with it a promise of a new beginning, a hope that, despite everything, the world still held beauty and goodness.
Jon…
Did Jon even notice his absence, or did he even care? His heart clenched painfully at the thought that the alpha hadn't even noticed his absence. He could hardly imagine that Jon would care about his departure. Something inside him screamed at him to stop giving so much weight to that thought.
He was the damned heir to the demon's head, and although he could consider himself a failure for being a degrading omega, he would a thousand times prefer to die under his own hand than to end up depending on the sweet caress of some alpha. Even though that decision seemed to further tear away the pieces of his already flayed soul, he didn't care. He just needed to find a refuge and keep going, keep going despite feeling and knowing what the miserable end of him would be.
Bitter resignation washed over him as he continued on his way. Every step was a reminder of his loneliness, of his lack of belonging in a world where roles were so strictly defined. But despite the pain and hopelessness, something inside him refused to give up. Maybe that little innocent animal that followed him non-stop was his last hope, his last light.
As he advanced, each step echoed in his mind and in his tired body. Every meter traveled, with his bare feet and his sickly pale skin, led him to remember Titus every time he glanced askance at the poor animal that faithfully followed him. He hated how the damned silence of the streets, beyond the simple murmur of the city's noise, gave his stupid mind free and direct access to get sentimental, to make him think about such cool and stupid things.
The image of him sleeping, lying on the large body of a Great Dane, who with complete trust let his small body rest on him, was a comforting memory that clung to his memory tightly. The dog's dark, soft fur seemed to completely surround the boy's field of vision, like a protective barrier that embraced him in a warm embrace of security and unconditional love. Every time he closed his eyes, he could feel the warmth of the Great Dane's body, the comforting feeling of being protected and loved. The trust that the dog placed in him, by allowing him to rest in this way, was something that filled him with gratitude and tenderness. In those moments, it seemed that all his worries faded away and only the peace and tranquility of those moments shared with his faithful companion remained.
And while the dog enveloped him in its calming presence, in the back of his mind the soft purr of Alfred the cat still resonated. Forming a small, furry ball in his arms, the cat seemed to find it the perfect refuge to rest and enjoy a restful sleep. The sound of his purring was like a soft, comforting melody, enveloping him in a feeling of peace and serenity.
Together, the dog and the cat formed a picture of tranquility and harmony that seemed to have been engraved in his heart forever. Although he now found himself alone on the cold and desolate streets, with only a sweet stray puppy as his faithful companion, he knew that he carried with him the love and tenderness of those who were once his family.
As he entered the dank abandoned building, He remembered the warmth of Richard's apartment. He remembered the times when the world seemed to close only around them, when their attention was completely focused on his love. He remembered how Richard carried him in his arms, as if he were a little child in need of protection and affection. But at the same time, it hurt his so much to remember how he had lost all that, that trust, that warmth, in an instant and without realizing it. Every step he took in the abandoned building resonated with the loneliness and emptiness he now felt inher heart. Before, that place had been his refuge, his sanctuary where he found love and comfort in Richard's arms. Now, however, it was just an empty, desolate place, a painful reminder of what he once had and lost.
He remembered how his body rested peacefully on top of Richard's, letting his head rest on the older man's collarbone. He remembered the sweet, protective aroma of cedar mixed with faint flecks of mint that embraced him gently in a cloud of sub-space that in his remote life he would never have thought would come, much less allow it to happen. He remembered how Richard held him as if he were only his, how the heavy sheepskin blankets covered them both, creating a sweet nest of love and protection.
In those moments, everything seemed perfect. There were no worries or fears, just the love and deep connection they shared. Richard was his refuge, his safe place where he could be himself without fear of judgment or disapproval. Every gesture, every word, every sigh from Richard was like a love song that enveloped him and filled him with happiness and peace.
But now, all that was gone. The cruel and merciless reality had separated them, taking with it all the happy memories they shared. Now, only emptiness and loneliness remained, a sharp pain that accompanied every moment of his existence.
That illusion of his mind, those memories, coldly shattered into fine crystals falling slowly, as if each fragment were a small pang in his heart. Now, he was sitting on the cold and dirty floor of the second floor of the abandoned building. Despite the desolation around him, there was a sense of relief in knowing that this place could be his refuge for a while.
He was sure that the chances of any homeless person going up to the second floor of a building as unstable as it looked were slim. It was a safe place for him and the puppy that accompanied him. He sat silently, watching the dust dance in the rays of light filtering through the broken windows, feeling the comforting warmth of the puppy curled up next to him. Despite the sadness and uncertainty surrounding him, there was a sense of peace in that moment. He had found a place where he could rest, at least for a while. He closed his eyes, allowing the stillness of the place to envelop him, feeling the soft, steady heartbeat of the puppy against his side.
The canine, with an infectious vitality, approached Damian, trotting energetically until stopping in front of him, looking directly into his eyes with an expression of curiosity and affection. With admirable confidence, the dog sat on Damian's lap, transforming into a small ball of fur with its head resting on his thigh. The animal's closeness and calming presence seemed to bring comfort to Damian in the midst of his desolation.
As he raised his hand to stroke the animal's shaggy fur, Damian noticed that he trembled slightly, unaware of the movement. He noticed the lack of strength when trying to clench it into a fist, which was discouraging and made him feel a sense of helplessness. It was a painful reminder of his own weakness and vulnerability in a world that seemed to be against him.
However, as his hand slid over the dog's soft fur, a feeling of calm and serenity washed over him. The gentle caress on the animal's head caused it to release an unexpected sigh, as if it recognized the gesture of affection and responded with gratitude. Damian couldn't help but smile unconsciously at the dog's reaction, feeling a glimmer of joy amidst the sadness that surrounded him.